Calculate the mass of sulfuric acid required to neutralize a solution containing 10 g of sodium hydroxide.

When looking for the mass of sulfuric acid, we need a reaction equation, so we write it:

H2SO4 + 2NaOH = Na2SO4 + 2H2O;

Also given 10 g of sodium hydroxide. Let’s find the number of its mol (n):

n (NaOH) = m (NaOH): M (NaOH) = 10 g: 40 g / mol = 0.25 mol.

Based on the equation, we see that sulfuric acid reacts in half as much as sodium hydroxide (due to the coefficient). Therefore: n (H2SO4) = n (NaOH): 2 = 0.25 mol: 2 = 0.125 mol.

And the mass of H2SO4 is then equal to:

m (H2SO4) = n (H2SO4) * M (H2SO4) = 0.125 mol * 98 g / mol = 12.25 g.